Maturity Matters: The Priority and Process for Disciple Building in the Church - Softcover

Dukes, Bob; Association, Inc. (Publisher), Worldwide Discipleship

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0615965776 ISBN 13: 9780615965772

Publisher: Worldwide Discipleship Association, 2014

Synopsis

For decades, Worldwide Discipleship Association (WDA) focused on discipling college students. Our staff poured our lives into others to help them apply biblical truth. We’re grateful most of our alumni are walking with Christ and providing spiritual leadership in their homes and churches. But after graduation, they share a common lament: “Our local church doesn’t seem to know how to help people grow to maturity. Can you help?” ·We began with a maturity philosophy. We knew Jesus had a plan for building mature leaders. His Great Commission assumed this “pattern of sound teaching” (2 Tim. 1:13), and the early church employed it to help people grow in Christ-likeness. Of course His plan would apply to the contemporary church, too. ·Using Jesus’ approach as a template, we designed a process for producing maturity in the church that included a progressive, intentional architecture for growth. ·Building on this process, we developed practical programs to support maturity. These can be implemented in local churches through lay leaders. ·Next, we produced a progressive curriculum that provides the content and training needed to support the programs. ·Finally, we built partnership prototypes in a few local churches that have implemented our process. This book represents an explanation and overview of what we’ve learned so far. We’ve reached a critical intersection. Christians need to be trained to think, feel, and act like Jesus (Luke 6:40). God commands this for the glory of His name. In addition, our culture has a desperate need for mature people. This project is much larger than our small organization. It will require collaboration and cooperation among all believers, especially Christian leaders. The declining Western Church needs restoration. The Church in other nations needs to be better equipped. If we hope to achieve these goals and follow Christ’s commands, we must work together. We know maturity is important. But we don’t always understand the best way to harness the processes that produce it. If you’re a church leader who feels this way, you’re not alone. In this book, we’ll present practical, biblical approaches for producing maturity. As you read and study this material, we hope you’ll grow—and join a movement that urges others to do the same. Everybody needs to grow and mature, but this book is aimed at Christians who realize something has gone terribly wrong in the Western societies that once embraced biblical Christianity. They sense, even suspect, that underlying issues exist within the church that connect to the cultural decay and the shift of worldviews. And they’re right. God has placed the church—along with the family— at the center of the maturation process. By strengthening the church, we bolster the family and, in turn, our society.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Praise for Maturity Matters

I've known Bob Dukes for more than a dozen years.  We've had the joys of spending extended time dreaming about what happens when a community catches the fire of what is truly the life of the disciple.  In all of my journeys, I've not met anyone so singularly focused on maturing our relationship with Christ.  As the title of this book declares, maturity matters.  Bob Dukes is both provocative and persuading, and he does all of this in a spirit of Christian humility and godly wisdom.
Dr. Barry H. Corey, President, Biola University

Years ago I began talking with Bob Dukes about the incredible need for a clear path for Christ followers to walk, leading from where they are to maturity in Christ. I thank God Bob has taken on the challenge to provide the church that practical path! Maturity Matters will help launch you and your church forward on the most important journey we will ever walk.
Dr. John Avant, Author and Senior Pastor at First Baptist Concord (TN)

The wisdom and insights Bob Dukes shared as one of my Sunday morning prayer partners could only come from a man who truly had a daily walk with God.  In other words, Bob Dukes is a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ - a mature Christian!  In "Maturity Matters", Bob builds a compelling case around the matter of maturing as a necessity for a Christian. To survive and thrive in today's world, maturity is essential for every believer.  Buy this book and share it with every Christian believer that you want to see "finish well" in the race we call life.
Dr. Dwight (Ike) Reighard, Senior Pastor, Piedmont Church (GA) and Author of "Daily Insights" with Zig Ziglar 

For many years, Bob Dukes has been training people for spiritual leadership following the pattern of Jesus with His disciples.  He has a shepherd's heart.  And as you read these pages you will feel his deep love for Christ and His church.  His message is clear.  It is down-to-earth.  If you take it to heart, you will know why maturity matters to God, to the praise of His glory.
Dr. Robert Coleman, Distinguished Senior Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

About the Author

Robert D. (Bob) Dukes is the President and Executive Director of Worldwide Discipleship Association headquartered in Fayetteville, Georgia. Bob has been with WDA since it was founded in 1974. Prior to becom- ing WDA’s 2nd President in 1997, he served as Campus Director at The University of Tennessee, National Campus Director, and Executive Direc- tor/Vice-President. He is the author/co-author of many educational pub- lications and articles including: A Biblical Framework for Disciple Building; A Practical Strategy for Disciple Building; Disciple Building for Small Groups; and Disciple Building for Life Coaches . He serves as a founding member of The Steering Committee for The Pierce Center for Disciple Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA. Bob graduated from Columbia University in New York, and attended Reformed Theological Seminary. He was awarded several honorary athletic and academic honors including Columbia’s prestigious “1917 Football Cup”. He was a finalist for The Rhodes Scholarship, selected as an “Out- standing Young Man of the Year” by The International Jaycees, and in- ducted into The East Tennessee Football Hall of Fame. The Dukes reside in Fayetteville, GA and have five children and many grandchildren.

Edition details

• Publisher: Worldwide Discipleship Association
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0615965776
• ISBN 13: 9780615965772
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256